Turbine Engine Simulator

• Flexible hosting: ATX, PXI, cPCI, VME, etc.
• Extensive I/O support for Hardware-In-the-Loop (HIL) testing
• Minimal risk, time and cost between concept and testing
• Scalable, distributed computation with PC-based technologies

The RT-LAB Turbine Engine Simulator can be used for virtual prototyping of turbine engine systems modeled in Simulink. Prototype your controller, simulate your engine or do both, while using your turbine engine simulation as an airplane engine, power generator, or pump motor.

The simulator is an integrated package of hardware (PC, I/O and break-out box) and software (Simulink, RTW and RT-LAB), which operates straight out of the box, but is entirely open to customization.

All hardware is PC-based and can be clustered by FireWire to permit maximum flexibility in scaling and performance. Choose the form factor that is best for your application. Add PCs according to computing needs. Interface external hardware through standard PC I/O. The final configuration is up to you.

Opal-RT simulators provide unprecedented performance in simulation and HIL applications. Step sizes as small as 10ms are possible enabling detailed modeling of electromechanical valves, electric motors, hydraulic actuators and power generators. Dont just simulate your engine, simulate the entire system!

The Turbine Engine Simulator allows the engineer to develop a turbine controller, an engine simulation or both using Simulink and the model-based design methodology. Build a model in Simulink, convert the model to C-code and run it using RT-LABs code-free process. Target the QNX RTOS for real-time simulations with HIL, or the Windows OS for fast-as-possible simulations. View internal signals to debug your simulation or controller. Tune internal parameters in your controller to get the desired response.

Scale the simulator hardware by adding PCs, to accommodate more detailed system models or simulate both the controller and engine together. Interface to Hardware in the Loop by using RT-LAB I/O and the provided library blocks:

• RT-LAB supports most off-the-shelf Analog and Digital I/O interface boards from: National Instruments, Acromag, RTD, Sensoray, Quanser
• MIL 1553 Interface: SBS Technologies
• ARINC 429 Interface: SBS Technologies
• LVDT/RVDT Emulators: Opal-RT Technologies
• LVDT/RVDT Decoders: Analog Devices & Opal-RT Technologies
• Variable Resistor Emulator: Opal-RT Technologies
• RS-232/422/485: various
• CAN: various

Along with the processors and I/O, breakout boxes are integrated between controller and engine. It is thus possible to introduce failures and watch as the results propagate without risk of damage to your turbine.

Embed your controller in your choice of hardware. Commercial hardware is now available for everything ranging from PC-104s to flight-ready enclosures. Interface the embedded controller to the engine simulation. Verify the interfaces before you deploy your controller with the real turbine engine.

Automate testing using RT-LABs full-featured API. Create your own test schemes with C, VB, FORTRAN, MATLAB or Python.  Alternately, use RT-LABs interface to a proven commercial test automation tool, National Instruments TestStand. RT-LABs TestStand API permits test sequencing, automatic variable looping, project management and report generation, ideal when implementing certification test plans.